Question formation rules
Learn the rules for forming correct English questions, including word order, auxiliary verbs, and knowing when not to use them, at A2 level.
In this lesson, you will learn how English question patterns change with be, auxiliary verbs, modal verbs, and question words.
Basic rule for questions in English
Choose the pattern according to the verb and the type of question:
| Situation | Basic pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| present/past simple | do/does/did + subject + base verb | Does she work here? |
| information question with an ordinary verb | question word/phrase + do/does/did + subject + base verb | Where do you live? |
| be as the main verb | am/is/are + subject | Are you ready? |
| past be | was/were + subject | Were you tired? |
| auxiliary + -ing / past participle | auxiliary + subject + verb form | Are you working? / Have you finished? |
| modal verb | modal + subject + base verb | Can you help? |
| subject question | question word + verb | Who called? |
In Are you ready?, be is the main verb. In Are you working?, be is an auxiliary before the -ing form; in Have you finished?, have is an auxiliary before a past participle.
Yes / no questions with do and does
Use do and does to form questions in the present simple.
Use do with:
- I / you / we / they
Use does with:
- he / she / it
Structure
- Do / Does + subject + base verb?
Examples
- Do you work on Saturdays?
- Do they live near here?
- Does she like coffee?
- Does he play football?
Important rule
- The main verb is always in the base form.
- ✗ Does she likes coffee?
- ✓ Does she like coffee?
Yes / no questions with be (present and past)
When the main verb is be, we do not use do or does.
Structure
- Am / Is / Are / Was / Were + subject?
Examples
- Are you tired?
- Is she at home?
- Are they ready?
- Was she at home yesterday?
- Were they late?
Do not use did with was/were: say Were you tired?, not Did you were tired?
Yes / no questions in the past simple (did)
Use did for all subjects in past simple questions.
Structure
- Did + subject + base verb?
Examples
- Did you watch the movie?
- Did she call you yesterday?
- Did they arrive on time?
Important rule
- All verbs in past simple questions use the base form after "did".
- ✗ Did you watched the movie?
- ✓ Did you watch the movie?
Questions with modal verbs
Modal verbs include:
- can, could, will, would, should, must
Structure
- Modal + subject + base verb?
Examples
- Can you help me?
- Could you open the window?
- Should we leave now?
- Will she call later?
- Would you like a coffee?
- Must I bring my passport?
Information questions with do, does, and did
When a question word asks about the object, place, time, reason, or manner, use do/does/did with an ordinary verb.
Common question words include what, where, when, why, who, which, whose, and how.
Structure
question word or phrase + do/does/did + subject + base verb?
Examples
- What do you do?
- Where do you live?
- Why did she leave early?
- How does this machine work?
If the question already has be or a modal, move that verb before the subject instead of adding do/does/did: Where are you? / Where were you yesterday? / What can she do?
Common question-word combinations
| Question phrase | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| How much...? | price or an uncountable amount | How much does it cost? / How much water do you need? |
| How many...? | a number with a plural countable noun | How many students are in the class? |
| How often...? | frequency | How often do you travel? |
| How long...? | duration | How long does the journey take? |
| How far...? | distance | How far is the station? |
| What time...? | a clock time | What time does the film start? |
| What ... like? | a person's character or the nature of something | What is your teacher like? |
| What kind of...? | a type or category | What kind of music do you like? |
| Which...? | a choice from a limited group | Which bus does she take? |
| Whose...? | possession | Whose coat is this? |
Questions with have
When have is the main verb for possession, both of these questions are common:
- Do you have a car? (common in all varieties)
- Have you got a car? (especially common in British English)
This is different from auxiliary have in the present perfect: Have you finished? Here, have helps to form the tense; it does not mean possession.
Quick check
Try one question now.
Check your answer when you are ready. No sign-in needed.
Negative questions
Negative questions often show surprise, check an expectation, or invite someone to agree.
Use a contracted negative auxiliary before the subject:
negative auxiliary + subject + main verb/complement?
- Don’t you like coffee? (The speaker thought you liked it.)
- Isn’t she coming with us? (The speaker expected her to come.)
- Didn’t they call you yesterday? (The speaker is surprised or checking.)
- Can’t he swim? (The speaker thought he could.)
The full form is more formal and has a different order: Do you not like coffee? Do not say Do not you like coffee?
Answer according to the fact, not the negative form of the question:
- Don’t you like coffee? — Yes, I do. (= I like it.)
- Don’t you like coffee? — No, I don’t. (= I do not like it.)
Subject and object questions
When the question word is the person or thing that performs the action (subject), do not use do/does/did.
Compare: Who called you? (who = subject, no do/does/did) and Who did you call? (who = object, use did). The same contrast applies to what: What happened? / What did you buy?
These are called subject questions and object questions.
With a singular subject question, keep normal third-person -s agreement: Who lives here? The same rule applies to other question words when they are the subject: Which bus goes to the centre? / How many students passed?
Examples
- Who wrote this? / Who did you write to?
- Which bus stops here? / Which bus did you take?
Preposition placement in object questions
In everyday English, a preposition often stays at the end of an object question.
- Who did you go with?
- What are you looking for?
- Which team does she play for?
Indirect questions
For polite questions, you can say: Can you tell me where the station is? More indirect-question patterns come later.
Question tags
Question tags, such as It’s cold, isn’t it?, are covered in the question-tag lessons.
Quick decision guide
- Is the question word the subject? Use question word + verb. Example: Who called you?
- Does the sentence already have be or a modal? Put it before the subject. Example: Are you ready? / Can she drive?
- With an ordinary verb, add do, does, or did and keep the main verb in the base form. Example: Where does he work?
- In a negative question, put the contracted negative auxiliary before the subject. Example: Didn’t they call you yesterday?
- In everyday object questions, a preposition can stay at the end. Example: Who did you go with?
You reached the end
You reached the endNow make it stick.
Save your progress, or start the exercises. Practice with detailed feedback after you submit, or save your progress and come back.
Was this lesson helpful?
Last updated October 14, 2026